Gratitude: The echo of grace

Zacchaeus was a tax collector during the time of Jesus. It was an occupation that got a bad rap because the position was being used to collect money for the Romans, the foreign masters of the Jewish people at that time. The people were further incensed at the tax collector because he also managed to help himself with what was collected by filling up his own pockets as well. People who were the likes of Zacchaeus were simply hated.

Given his being small in stature, people would therefore get back by making fun of him. If one uses one’s imagination, Zacchaeus might have become a victim of name calling or even malicious pranks done to him or to his kin. In turn, he would get back by making it more difficult for the people by collecting even more taxes. It was a cycle of “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” In this set-up, one would always try to get one up over the other. Nobody actually won in the process. This was the context when Jesus entered the scene.

The people saw Jesus entering Jericho and everybody wanted to get a glimpse of him. The crowd became so thick that Zacchaeus would not be able to see. He had no one who would let him through. Zacchaeus, wanting to see Jesus, went up a sycamore tree to wait for Jesus to pass. But Jesus did not pass by. He stopped, looked up and spoke to the small man. Jesus engaged Zacchaeus where he was at.

“Come down. Hurry. I must stay at your house today!”

(Try to imagine what you would do if you were Zacchaeus. In your delighted surprise, you would be scrambling down from the tree because for once, somebody looked at you differently and accepted you as you are. In your heart you would be the most grateful person in Jericho, if not the whole world!)

Everyone complained that Jesus went to a sinner’s house. It was their way of continuing their old ways. HOWEVER, Zacchaeus’ reaction to the crowd was a 180-degree turn from what his usual reaction would have been. He would have none of it as he stopped the cycle of hatred and revenge by making straight his ways. Jesus was simply telling him that He wanted to visit Zacchaeus’ house. Jesus only wanted to be with him. Zacchaeus responded with more than what was asked of him.

“I am going to give half of my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.”

Zacchaeus showed the great spirit that he had inside. He might have been small but he saw that in his change of heart, he transformed into the great person that he really was. Because of his experience of Jesus, he became more giving and even forgiving. He said sorry for the wrongdoing that he did and made reparation as he took on a new way of life.

Gratitude is indeed the echo of grace. It comes from the encounter that one has been gifted with much. There is no sense of entitlement, but rather a sense of awe and being dumbfounded by the gratuity that is given – even if it is not deserved. We may find ourselves being like the old Zacchaeus and the crowd sometimes in our lives, when we repay bad things with bad things or good things with good things.

God does not ask us to repay what he freely gives. He asks us to be free with no strings attached so that we may also be given the chance to respond in the best way that we can.  This great attitude freely inspires and brings forth life. It moves from a practice of paying back to that of paying forward! – all because of grace.

Let us ask, and even beg, for the grace that was shown to Zacchaeus by Jesus. Let us ask for the grace to be close to Him. And as we end this Marian month of October, we also ask our Blessed Mother Mary to place us closer to her Son.

Hail Mary, full of Grace.

The Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women.

And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

Pray for us sinners,

Now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.  GOD’S WORD TODAY   Jonjee C. Sumpaico, S.J.